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Posts Tagged Viz Media

PR: Viz Media Announces North American Blu-Ray and Manga Release of Tiger & Bunny The Beginning

By Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, September 26, 2013

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES NORTH AMERICAN DVD/BLU-RAY AND MANGA ADAPTATION RELEASES FOR ACTION FEATURE FILM
TIGER & BUNNY THE MOVIE: THE BEGINNING

Catch Japan’s First Corporate Superheroes Wild Tiger And Barnaby Brooks Jr. In Their Feature Film Debut As They Work Together To Catch The Killer Of Brooks’ Parents And Discover The Identity Of A Murderous Vigilante

San Francisco, CA, September 24, 2013 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced new anime and manga (graphic novel) releases for TIGER & BUNNY THE MOVIE: THE BEGINNING, the rollicking, fast-paced feature film that that delivers a new spin on the classic superhero story.

TIGER & BUNNY THE MOVIE: THE BEGINNING debuts on DVD and Blu-ray on October 1st, with a rating of TV-14, and a DVD MSRP of $19.99 U.S. / $24.98 CAN; Blu-ray MSRP of $24.98 U.S. / $27.50 CAN. The DVD and Blu-ray editions feature special plot trailers and previews as well as a Weekly Hero Countdown segment. DVD Bonus Features include Production Art and footage from the TIGER & BUNNY U.S. World Premiere Event Special. The Blu-ray edition also contains over 3 hours of Bonus Features, including Production Art and footage from the TIGER & BUNNY U.S. World Premiere Event Special, as well as an Anime Expo 2012 TIGER & BUNNY Highlight Reel and interviews with the U.S. and Japanese voice actor cast and production staff.

TIGER & BUNNY THE MOVIE: THE BEGINNING SIDE A & SIDE B is the 2-volume manga adaptation of the feature film, debuting on October 8th (print-only) with a rating ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN for each volume.

TIGER & BUNNY THE MOVIE: THE BEGINNING is an exciting movie that takes audiences on a wild journey to the metropolis of Stern Bild, where there are heroes that wear the logos of sponsors and protect the city from danger. Their exploits are broadcast on the popular HERO TV. Wild Tiger (Kotetsu T. Kaburagi) is a veteran superhero who is past his peak and is ordered by his company to team up with the rookie hero, Barnaby Brooks Jr. after his ratings begin to slip. Can these two mismatched superheroes overcome their differences to protect the city?

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Tiger & Bunny, Viz Media

Review: Kaze Hikaru (Vol. 21)

By Lissa Pattillo on Friday, September 6, 2013

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Manga-ka: Taeko Watanabe
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: August 2013

Synopsis: “After Hijikata grows suspicious of Soji’s feelings about Sei, he reassigns Sei to the third troop under Saito’s command. Soji, puzzled by his own recent irrational behavior toward Sei, attempts to distance himself from her. Sei, in turn, interprets this as Soji’s realization of her feelings for him and decides that she can no longer serve as a bushi alongside him. She goes to visit Suigetsuni, a nun who knew Sei in her former life as a girl, to discuss renouncing the world and entering the convent!”

Waiting a year for any new volume of a series is painful, but when it’s one as charming as Kaze Hikaru it’s all the more sad. At least it’s a credit to the series that even a twelve month wait is little match for the memorable nature of these characters. They feel as familiar now as they did the last time a new book came out. Sometimes, though, things can feel a bit too familiar and while the turmoil of Kamiya/Sei’s love and Soshi’s naivety continues to be the series’ driving force, there is such thing as having too much of a good thing.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Kaze Hikaru, Manga, Shoujo Beat, Viz Media

Review: Bakuman (Vol. 20)

By Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, September 3, 2013

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Author: Tsugumi Ohba
Manga-ka: Takeshi Obata
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: August 2013

Synopsis: “For ten years, two young men have worked as hard as they possibly could to make their manga dreams come true. Now, as they sit atop the manga world, can the promise made long ago finally be fulfilled?!”

At twenty volumes, it’s the end of Bakuman. I’ll miss this series as it gave us in-depth, if not somewhat dramatically sped up and hyped, look at being a creator in the world’s most read comic magazine, Shonen Jump. While the last volume give its characters the satisfaction of achieving their dreams, it’s odd that it focuses so much on elements barely present in previous books, instead of what the series has always been about – manga.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Bakuman, Manga, Shonen Jump, Viz Media

Viz Media Revives and Bewitches with Licenses at Japan Expo

By Lissa Pattillo on Monday, August 26, 2013

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There was more from Japan Expo before the weekend was done as Viz Media took the panel stage to announce two new series:

Phantom Thief Jeanne – Arina Tanemura
Spell of Desire – Tomu Ohmi

Phantom Thief Jeanne (also known as Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne) joins Viz Media’s already hefty library of Arina Tanemura titles, including the recent Sakura Hime and my personal favourite, Full Moon O Sagashite. PTJ is a license ‘rescue’ – CMX originally released the entire seven volume series before shutting down. For those of us who’ve never read it, or perhaps have been unable to find a particular volume to finish a collection after many, many years, will now have another chance to own the series in its entirety. The first volume is scheduled for March 2014.

“By day, Kusakabe Maron is an ordinary high school girl with more than her share of problems. But by night, she is Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne – the reincarnation of Joan of Arc! Her mission? Hunt down demon-possessed paintings and exorcise the evil spirits! But accomplishing this mission puts her in conflict with the authorities who only see her as a mysterious stranger vandalizing works of art. With only the help of angel-in-training Finn, she must survive high school during the day and fight evil by night!” – CMX, Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne (Vol. 01)

Spell of Desire is a supernatural romance for older-than-the-usual audiences. Its’ creator, Tomu Ohmi,just had the first volume of their series, Midnight Secretary, released by Viz Media last week. Spell of Desire is currently four volumes long in Japan with the first English volume scheduled for August 2014.

The story stars a young woman named Kaoruko who runs a herb shop after losing her parents when she was young. Her world begins to change when a mysterious man named Kaname enters the shop and Kaoruko learns there is more to her family, her shop and herself than she ever knew.

Both these new series will be released under Viz Media’s Shoujo Beat imprint.
Credit for the news’ details goes to AnimeNewsNetwork

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Categories: Licensing, News
Tags: Conventions, Japan Expo, Manga, Phantom Thief Jeanne, Shoujo Beat, Spell of Desire, Viz Media

On The Shelf: August 21, 2013

By Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, August 21, 2013

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It looks like Otakuthon was a lot of fun this year. I’ve always wanted to try going, but just haven’t planned it yet. Maybe 2014? Good excuse to take the train! I love our sad, barely running little train system.

As for manga, this week I’m most looking forward to Bunny Drop (Vol. 09) from Yen Press. This volume wraps up the main story and is the book long criticized for its ending. I’m so conflicted by the idea alone. On one hand (no spoilers!), yuck. On the other? Maybe Yumi Unita can make it less yuck? We’ll soon see.

No. 6 (Vol. 02) from Kodansha Comics is also a must-buy after enjoying the first so much, plus the anime adaptation. Yen Press is starting a new series with Judge (Vol. 01), the sequel to Doubt, and Viz Media is releasing the long-awaited Ikigami: Ultimate Limit (Vol. 09). At last!

Also work a note is this week’s Shonen Jump. Because the magazine is on holiday in Japan, there are no new chapters but Viz Media also released a special Naruto art book in its place. I’m not a Naruto reader myself, but it’s great they still put together something. My fingers are crossed they do the same for future holidays – I’d love a cover art collection of other series, such as Toriko, Bleach or Dragonball.

Battle Angel Alita: Last Order Omnibus (Vol. 02) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
BTOOOM! (Vol. 03) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Bunny Drop (Vol. 09) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Ikigami: Ultimate Limit (Vol. 09) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Judge (Vol. 01) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
No. 6 (Vol. 02) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Pokemon Adventures: Heart Gold & Soul Silver (Vol. 01) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Puella Magi Kazumi Magica: The Innocent Malice (Vol. 02) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Umineko When They Cry: Turn of the Golden Witch (Vol. 02) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]

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Categories: On The Shelf, Release Lists
Tags: Battle Angel Alita, Btooom!, Bunny Drop, Ikigami, Judge, Kodansha Comics, Manga, No.6, Perfect Square, Pokemon Adventures, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Spice and Wolf, Umineko, Viz Media, Yen Press

PR: Viz Media Offers An Office Romance With A Dark Twist in the Manga Launch of Midnight Secretary

By Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, August 21, 2013

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VIZ MEDIA OFFERS AN OFFICE ROMANCE WITH A DARK TWIST IN THE MANGA LAUNCH OF MIDNIGHT SECRETARY

New Series From The Shojo Beat Imprint Follows A Dedicated Office Worker And Her Mysterious Boss, Who Turns Out To Be A Vampire!

San Francisco, CA, August 19, 2013 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, debuts the sexy supernatural office romance of MIDNIGHT SECRETARY as the manga (graphic novel) series launches on September 3rd. MIDNIGHT SECRETARY was created by Tomu Ohmi and will be published under the Shojo Beat imprint, is rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers, and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

Kaya Satozuka prides herself on being an excellent secretary and a consummate professional, so she doesn’t even bat an eye when she’s reassigned to the office of her company’s difficult director, Kyohei Tohma. He’s as prickly – and hot – as rumors paint him, but Kaya is unfazed… until she discovers that he’s a vampire!!

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Midnight Secretary, Viz Media

PR: Viz Media Announces Happy Marriage?! Manga Debut

By Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, August 21, 2013

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VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES HAPPY MARRIAGE?! MANGA DEBUT

Will Two Strangers Living In Matrimony Find Their Way To A Happy Marriage?! A New Romantic Comedy From Manga Creator Maki Enjoji

San Francisco, CA, August 19, 2013 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, presents a new take on domestic bliss as releases Maki Enjoji’s shojo manga (graphic novel) series, HAPPY MARRIAGE?! The first volume is available now from the Shojo Beat imprint, is rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers, and carries an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

HAPPY MARRIAGE?! is also available digitally for $4.99 (U.S / CAN) from VIZManga.com and for digital download through the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® touch, Android-powered smart phones, and also for NOOK tablets and devices.

In order to help her father, Chiwa Takanashi agrees to an arranged marriage with the company president, Hokuto Mamiya–a man she doesn’t know–at the request of Hokuto’s grandfather. Chiwa believes the arrangement isn’t binding, but her new partner seems to think otherwise.

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Happy Marriage?!, Viz Media

Super Savings: Viz Media Bids Farewell to Summer With Digital Deals

By Lissa Pattillo on Friday, August 16, 2013

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Viz Media is offering a silver lining to the dwindling days of summer with a sale on their digital manga. Until September 5, 2013, all their titles available on VizManga.com and its apps, plus the NOOK tablets, are 20% off. This means that their standard pricing of $4.99/US per book drops to $3.99/US. For an entire volume of manga? That’s pretty darn good!

While I’m always an advocate for buying the hardcopy books, the sad part of print reality is that some are just not possible to find anymore. However, Viz Media has been pushing out digital editions of a lot of older series, alongside simultaneous releases of their new ones. This is great for finally being able to read a lot of out of print titles.

Some of my recommendations from the out-of-print category include Red River, Please Save My Earth, The Cain Saga, and – one of my absolute favourites – Kaze Hikaru. Viz Media currently boasts a “library of over 1,500 volumes across 130+ series”. Get ’em while they’re cheap(er)!

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Categories: News, Super Savings
Tags: Digital, Kaze Hikaru, Please Save My Earth, Red River, Shonen Jump, Shoujo Beat, The Cain Saga, Viz Media

PR: Viz Media Announces Release of Tiger & Bunny Comic Anthology 2-in-1

By Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, August 15, 2013

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VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF TIGER & BUNNY COMIC ANTHOLOGY 2-IN-1

First Of A 2-Volume Homage To The Superhero Smash Hit Anime Series Features A Humorous Collection Of Inspired Shorts

San Francisco, CA, August 14, 2013 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, delivers an entirely new take on the superhero manga action of TIGER & BUNNY with the release of the TIGER & BUNNY: COMIC ANTHOLOGY 2-IN-1. The new release is now available, and is rated ‘T’ for Teens, carrying an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN.

Inspired by the hit anime series from Sunrise Studio, Ltd., TIGER & BUNNY (also licensed in North America by VIZ Media), the TIGER & BUNNY: COMIC ANTHOLOGY features a collection of humorous shorts by an all-star manga artist line-up. The volume also includes 4 full-color bonus pages featuring key character artwork from the anime series.

The heroes of Stern Bild City are larger than life when they appear on Hero TV, but when they take off their costumes their lives are just like anyone else’s! Or are they?! What do you do when you’re a hero and invited to a Halloween costume party? See how our heroes stay in shape (and keep their hair from getting messed up). And exactly what is Saito saying under his breath? Over two-dozen stories take you deep into the world of Tiger & Bunny!

“The TIGER & BUNNY: COMIC ANTHOLOGY 2-In-1 is the first of a unique, 2-volume homage to the bestselling anime/manga series about a future where corporate-sponsored superheroes battle evil, and often each other, for reality TV ratings,” says Mike Montesa, Editor. “This new release features 18 of Japan’s top doujinshi, self-published, amateur manga artists, who present a collection of distinctive and often hilarious shorts that imagine a whole new ‘off-duty’ side to Wild Tiger, Barnaby Brooks Jr. and other memorable characters from the hit series. Don’t miss this fun new addition to the TIGER & BUNNY universe!”

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Tiger & Bunny, Viz Media

PR: Viz Media Debuts The New Fantasy Adventure Manga Series: Magi The Labyrinth of Magic

By Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, August 15, 2013

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VIZ MEDIA DEBUTS THE NEW FANTASY ADVENTURE MANGA SERIES MAGI: THE LABYRINTH OF MAGIC

Deadly Dungeons Filled With Traps And Hidden Treasures Await Young Adventurer Aladdin In This Exciting Reimagining Of The Arabian Nights

San Francisco, CA, August 14, 2013 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, offers a captivating new reimagining of the classic story One Thousand and One Nights (also known as the Arabian Nights) with the debut of MAGI: THE LABYRINTH OF MAGIC, now available. The new series, by Shinobu Ohtaka, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, is published under the Shonen Sunday imprint, and carries an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

MAGI: THE LABYRINTH OF MAGIC is also available digitally for $4.99 (U.S / CAN) from VIZManga.com and for digital download through the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® touch, Android-powered smart phones, and also for NOOK tablets and devices.

Deep within the desert lie the mysterious Dungeons, vast stores of riches there for the taking by anyone lucky enough to find them and brave enough to venture into the depths from where few have ever returned. Plucky young adventurer Aladdin means to find the Dungeons and their riches, but Aladdin may be just as mysterious as the treasures he seeks.

“MAGI: THE LABYRINTH OF MAGIC is a enchanting mix of comedy, fantasy, and adventure, with dungeons full of treasures and deadly traps that hide mysterious magical beings,” says Mike Montesa, Editor. “Aladdin and his trusty magical sidekick Ugo are in for the adventure of a lifetime as they journey across deadly deserts and exotic locales in search of fame, fortune, and destiny!”

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Magi, Viz Media